The Nature of Ultimate Reality: The Three Lakshanas

Question 1

AO3: How are Dukkha and Annica representative of reality?

Answer 1

The use of mindfulness for mental health and the response to change and stress.

Question 2

AO3: How can Dukkha be seen as representative of reality?

Answer 2

Acknowledges the ups and downs of life which we are all familiar with.

Question 3

AO3: How can Science be linked to impermanence?

Answer 3

Quantum physics appears to be in constant flux - outlined in the Tao of Physics.

Question 4

AO3: How can anatta be understood as not representing reality?

Answer 4

There are many conflicting areas, especially with world faith as many believe we possess a soul.

Question 5

AO3: What are the three lakshanas in regards to the Buddha’s experience?

Answer 5

The first observations the Buddha made after the four sights - could therefore be the basis of Buddhist philosophy.

Question 6

AO3: How can Annica be seen as important to Buddhism?

Answer 6

Outlines everything has temporary existence as a person changes and progresses towards enlightenment.
Also helps advancing through meditation stages.

Question 7

AO3: How could nibbana be seen to be of more importance?

Answer 7

As it is ‘unconditioned’ - distinguishes it’s uniqueness.

Question 8

AO3: What does the Buddha say which could suggest Nibbanna to be of more importance?

Answer 8

‘Suffering I teach’ and ‘a way out of suffering’.

Question 9

AO3: What does Mahathera Nyanatiloka state about the importance of Anatta?

Answer 9

‘The only really specific Buddhist doctrine, with which the entire structure of the Buddhist teaching stands on or falls’.

Question 10

AO3: How can Dukkha be seen as the most important teaching?

Answer 10

Change and suffering is what propels us to desire enlightenment.

Question 11

What are the 3 lakshanas considered as?

Answer 11

Marks of existence or universal truths with their possible origins in the four sights.

Question 12

What are the 3 lakshanas seen as?

Answer 12

Being interconnected and as being a development of the four noble truths.

Question 13

Dukka

Answer 13

Unsatisfactoriness - key concept.

Question 14

Anicca

Answer 14

Impermanence - viewed as a development of Dukkha

Question 15

Anatta

Answer 15

Not self - viewed as a development of Dukkha.

Question 16

Where is the Buddha’s first sermon after his enlightenment recorded?

Answer 16

In the Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta where he outlines the 4 noble truths - first being Dukkha.

Question 17

How can the Dukkha be understood?

Answer 17

In a variety of ways and can be seen as arising when a person is aware of Anicca with everything subject to change and impermanence and when a person sees that they too are impermenant and are in reality anatta.

Question 18

How can anicca be understood?

Answer 18

In the context of the first three sights: old age, sickness and death - here in a person there is nothing static that stays the same.

Question 19

What can anicca be seen as?

Answer 19

A law of the universe in terms of physics, when at the sub-atomic level particles are in a constant flux despite giving the appearance of solidity and permenance.

Question 20

What does the Milindapanha describe?

Answer 20

How the Greek King (probably Menander) comes to question an assembly of bhikkus before whom Nagasena appears to take up the challenge.

Question 21

What does Buddhism reject?

Answer 21

Buddhism rejects the soul/spirit/atman/metaphysical “self” as being sunnata (emptiness) but accepts the empirical self which consists of five skandhas: (form, feeling, perception, mental formations and consciousness) arising/combining/changing all the time.